After reading all the mock scrape threads this season, and seeing all the pics, and Dukes buck taken because of one, brings me to this question. The spot where I took my buck this season has a flat spot in a low depression amongst all the strip mine hills. Its a place about 60X40 yards in size and at one point had about 12 scrapes in all, and had rubs everywhere some about the size of my arms. I was thinking about starting a Mock there about August like Dukster did, or would I be better off leaving it alone since it seems like it will likely take off on its own anyway?? This paticular spot is the second spot like this I have ever found that I refer to as a Hub of a wagon wheel. It seems like the Deer came in on all the spokes from all directions to the scrape hub. My other spot like this, I lost to reclaim mining My thinking is starting a mock will have what ever buck is boss of the area on edge as to who is in his terf. am I thinking right Help in Indiana :D
If it helps your situation, then make a new one within good shooting lane of your nearest stand. An overhanging licking branch is a vital component of a scrape. You can easily add one to any location with a nearby tree. I've even see guys put up a post with a branch tied to it to start a scrape on an otherwise bare travel corridor. A peripheral scrape of any given area will be more territorial and used by the more dominant bucks while central scrapes are often used by most any bucks and does along with the dominant bucks. Adding urine to, or making a new peripheral mock scrape will often increase the regularity that a dominant buck will tend those scrapes to attempt to enforce his area. If the scrapeline was made by a smaller buck, there is always a chance he may give up that part of his territory, but any decent size buck will continue to mark his area up until chasing begins. A central scrape hub will be tended regardless, but adding another scrape close to your set-up sure won't hurt anything. I had a nice scrapeline close to one of my stands this year with a single-use scrape right under me. I tore-it up a bit and added urine to it and a mock scrape close by and the buck(s) started tending my 2 scrapes more than the original ones just out of range. I also had does marking them and checking both out with regularity. That being said, I tend to agree with Buckeye, the scrapes that are being actively used I would leave alone. .
If you keep sending me smart mouthed texts while I am in the stand and making idle threats, I will take that ugly face of yours and use it to make a mock scrape. I will be back in the bottoms Saturday am, so keep looking over your shoulder. Tell Beth I want a diablo sandwich and a dr. pepper for breakfast. How is Dalton doing hunting this year? See ya Dink. >>>Ka-Tow<<<
